Interface device for testing a telecommunication circuit

ABSTRACT

An interface device and method for testing a telecommunication circuit by utilizing a test cord that has a first end that is integrated with the interface device and a second end that terminates with a test connector. Upon insertion of the test connector into a test port of a connectivity block, the interface device may be configured to allow for monitoring of the telecommunication circuit, without disrupting the circuit. Similarly, the interface device may be configured to disrupt the telecommunication circuit and allow a user to examine both sides of the circuit.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/603,463,filed Jun. 25, 2003, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,205 on issuedApr. 3, 2007, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field oftelecommunication networks, and, more specifically, to a new device andmethod for interfacing a telecommunication circuit for testing purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide services such as voice and data communication to acustomer, the phone company is often required to connect, or interface,their telecommunications network with the telecommunications network ofthe customer's business or residence. This is because the phonecompany's network, although usually quite vast, does not typicallyextend into buildings such as private residences or commercial offices.Accordingly, the telephone company's services are provided to a customerby interfacing the telephone company's network with the internalcommunication network of the customer's building, which then distributesthe services throughout the building. The point at which these twonetworks connect with one another is at the building entrance terminal(BET). The BET typically includes, among other things, one or moreconnectivity blocks that allow for the easy establishment of connectionsbetween a first group of wires (representing the phone company'snetwork) and a second group of wires (representing the internalcommunication network of the building).

A recent development in certain connectivity blocks, such as thosedeveloped by Krone, Inc., is the inclusion of test ports. Through theinsertion of a test cord and plug into a test port, a telephone companytechnician is provided with two simple ways of testing thetelecommunication circuit made up of the telephone company's network andinternal communication network of the building. Specifically, byinsertion of the test plug into the test port, the technician canmonitor the circuit without disrupting it, or alternatively, disconnectthe two networks from one another and examine each network independentlyfrom the other. This latter testing method is often referred to as“looking both ways”.

Although the addition of test ports provides a technician withsignificant advantages in testing a circuit, it also creates several newproblems. First, because the proprietary nature of the test port, one ormore specific types of cords with the appropriate test plugs must beavailable to the technician to allow him or her to test the circuit. Asa result, the telephone company has to purchase and supply theappropriate test cord or cords to each of their technicians.Subsequently, each technician is required to carry the additionalcord(s), resulting in more equipment to transport from site to site,along with an increased chance of forgetting or losing the specializedand expensive test cord(s). Furthermore, the addition of one or more newcords can lead to greater confusion for the technician, who already hasa significant number of tools he or she must be familiar with and knowwhen to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interface device for testing atelecommunications circuit. Included within the device is a test cordwith a first end integrated with the interface device, and a second endterminating with a test connector, such as, for example, a probe orplug. Also included are a first interface and a second interface forselectively attaching a diagnostic tool. Through use of one or moreswitches, the interface device can be configured to allow for monitoringof a selected telecommunication circuit without disrupting the circuit,or alternatively, allow for testing of the circuit by disrupting it andallowing a user to examine both sides of the circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an interface device for testing a telecommunicationcircuit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates how the interface device for testing atelecommunication circuit may be used in conjunction with one or moreconnect blocks according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates the monitoring of a telecommunication circuit by theinterface device without disruption of the circuit.

FIG. 3B illustrates the monitoring of a telecommunication circuit by theinterface device where the circuit is disrupted and analyzed on oppositesides of the disruption.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the interface device for testing atelecommunication circuit may be used in conjunction with one or moreconnect blocks according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be discussedin reference to FIG. 1. Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an interface device 10for testing a telecommunication circuit. Interface device 10 includes abody 20 with a top surface 30.

Projecting out from the top surface 30 of device 10 are a plurality ofconductors 32 a-32 d that may be used to connect various pieces oftesting equipment or diagnostic tools to interface device 10. Accordingto the illustrated embodiment, conductors 32 a-32 d are comprised ofstuds or posts. Alternatively, conductors 32 a-32 d may be of any designthat readily allows for the establishment of an electrical connection,such as, for example, threaded inserts, captive fasteners, test leads ortest ports.

An electrical connection with one or more of the conductors 32 a-32 dmay be established by several means. Several examples of the types ofelectrical connections that can be made, provided merely forillustrative purposes, include the placing of a bare wire in contactwith a conductor 32 by wrapping the wire around the conductor 32, or theuse of clips or plugs, such as, alligator clips or banana plugs.

Also present on the top surface 30 of interface device 10 is a jack 34for accepting a plug from a diagnostic tool or piece of testingequipment. Accordingly, a diagnostic tool can be placed in electricalcommunication with the interface device 10 through the use of conductors32 a-32 d, or, alternatively, jack 34. In the present embodiment, jack34 complies with the RJ-11 standard used for data transmission. However,jack 34 is not limited to any one type of format, but may be designed tocomply with any format commonly encountered by telephone companytechnicians.

Integrated with the interface device 10 is a test cord 40 which projectsout from the top surface 30 of interface device 10. The free end of testcord 40 is terminated with a test connector 41, 42, 44 designed tointerface with the test port 54 found within certain connect blocks suchas, for example, Krone® Series II connect blocks. The connector 41, 42,44 is not limited to any specific design or type, but instead can be ofany configuration. For example, according to the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 1, the connector comprises a test probe 41, while according tothe embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, theconnector is a single plug 42 or multi-pair plug 44. For purposes ofclarity during the remainder of the discussion, reference will simply bemade to the specific type of connector illustrated in the Figures.However, it should be understood that these specific types of connectorsare provided not as limitations but merely as examples.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, provided on the topsurface 30 of interface device 10 is a two-position switch 36 forselectively configuring the interface device 10 into either a first orsecond operating state, as will be discussed in detail below. In theillustrated embodiments , switch 36 is a rocker-type switch. However,according to alternative embodiments, switch 36 may be any type ofswitch, such as, for example, a button-type switch, rotary-type switchor toggle-type switch, that can be placed into either a first or secondstate.

The body 20 of interface device 10 incorporates an attachment mechanismfor securing the interface device 10 to a surface. In the embodimentdepicted in FIGS. 1-3, the attachment mechanism comprises screws 22 forsecuring the interface device 10. Alternatively, the interface device 10can be secured to a surface by numerous other attachment mechanisms,including, but not limited to, clips, magnets and adhesives. Theinterface device 10 can also be mounted onto a mounting frame 51, suchas, for example, a Krone® Back Mount Frame. The frame 51 allows forvarious telecommunications equipment, such as connectivity blocks 52, tobe easily secured to a wall or other surface. In this manner, aninterface device 10 can be secured nearby or next to a connectivityblock 52 by simply mounting the interface device 10 upon the frame 51.

Operation of the interface device 10, in accordance with a firstembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, will now be described. Secured upon amounting frame 51 are several connectivity blocks 52. Mounted next toframe 51 is the interface device 10. According to the example depictedin FIG. 2, interface device 10 is mounted by means of screw 22. However,as indicated above, other alternative attachment mechanisms could beutilized to mount interface device 10 onto a surface, or alternatively,onto frame 51.

In order to test a specific circuit, the technician simply locates theintegrated test cord 40 of the interface device 10 and insert the testplug 42, located at the free end of test cord 40, into the appropriatetest port 54 of connectivity block 52 that corresponds to the circuitthat the technician desires to test. The technician can then eithermonitor the circuit without disrupting it, or disrupt the circuit andtest it by “looking both ways”. Selection of one of these two possibletesting methods is accomplished by means of switch 36.

When switch 36 is placed in a first position, the interface device 10 isconfigured to monitor the circuit without disrupting it. The techniciancan then monitor the circuit by attaching a diagnostic tool 60 to theinterface device 10.

FIG. 3A illustrates the use of interface device 10 to monitor a circuitwithout disrupting the circuit. Specifically, a communications circuit70 runs between a customers's building 80 and the central office 84 of alocal telephone company. In between these two endpoints, the circuit 70passes through the building entrance terminal (BET) 58 associated withthe customer's building 80. By connecting a diagnostic tool 60 tointerface device 10, and placing switch 36 of interface device 10 into afirst position, the technician is able to monitor the signals runningalong the communication circuit 70, back and forth between thecustomer's building 80 and the central office 84, without causing anydisruption in circuit 70.

Alternatively, when switch 36 is placed into a second position, theinterface device 10 disrupts the circuit path, isolating the telephonecompany's network from the building's telecommunication network. Byattaching the appropriate diagnostic tool 60 to the interface device 10,the technician is able to “look both ways” or evaluate each side of thecircuit independent from the other side of the circuit.

FIG. 3B illustrates the use of interface device 10 to disrupt and test acircuit. In this example, switch 36 of interface device 10 is placedinto a second position. This configures the interface device 10 so thatupon the device 10 being connected to the communications circuit 70,circuit 70 is physically disrupted into two distinct circuit portions.The first circuit portion 72 of circuit 70 runs between the customer'sbuilding 80 and the BET 58, while the second circuit portion 74 runsbetween the BET 58 and the CO 84 of the telephone company. A techniciancan then connect a diagnostic tool 60 to interface device 10 andevaluate either the first circuit portion 72 and/or second circuitportion 74 independently from one another.

According to an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, theinterface device 10 utilizes a multi-pair plug 44 as its test connector.The multi-pair plug 44 inserts into a plurality of test ports 54provided upon a connectivity block 52. In this manner, the interfacedevice 10 does not connect to one individual circuit at a time, but to aplurality of communication circuits. The technician selects whichcircuit to monitor or conduct tests upon through means of a secondswitch 38. Thus, for example, placing switch 38 into one of ten possiblestates allows for the selection of ten possible communication circuits.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, switch 38 is arotary-type of switch. However, any type of multi-positional switch canbe utilized provided that the switch offers a sufficient number ofstates to correspond to each communication circuit connected to bymulti-pair plug 44.

In a similar embodiment (not depicted), test cord 40 is terminated witha multi-pair plug 44 while interface device 10 utilizes a single switchto both control and configure the device. Specifically, the singleswitch would provide dual functions, including the selection of one ofthe communication circuits, along with configuring the device to eithermonitor the selected circuit without disrupting it, or alternatively,disrupt the selected circuit, thereby allowing the circuit to be tested.One such example, provided merely for illustrative purposes, wouldutilize a rotary switch that could be placed into twice as many statesas there are circuits connected to the interface device 10. The numberof states offered by the switch would be grouped into pairs, with eachpair of states corresponding to one communication circuit. Within eachpair of states, one state would configure the interface device 10 tomonitor the selected circuit without disrupting it, while the otherstate would disrupt the selected circuit.

According to another embodiment of the invention (not depicted), theinterface device 10 would be connected to a plurality of communicationcircuits by means of a multi-pair plug 44, while selection of a circuitand configuration of the interface device 10 would be carried outelectronically. In this manner, the functions previously controlled bymanipulation of one or more mechanical switches can now be controlleddirectly by the diagnostic tool 60 connected to the interface device 10.

Depending on the type of connectivity the diagnostic tool 60 offers, itcan be communicably linked to interface device 10 by one of two methods.The first method of connecting diagnostic tool 60 to interface device 10is through use of conductors 32 a-32 d. Utilizing this connectionmethod, a variety of tools, ranging from, for example, a simple handsetto a sophisticated digital multimeter, can be connected to the interfacedevice 10. Alternatively, a diagnostic tool 60 can connect to theinterface device 10 by means of jack 34. If configured to be a RJ-11standardized jack, jack 34 would allow for a standard telephone to beconnected to the interface device 10. This would provide the furtheradvantage of allowing not only a technician, but also the customer orend user of the circuit to be able to perform some basic testing of thecircuit.

The interface device 10, as described in the embodiments discussedabove, provides for several advantages in testing a telecommunicationcircuit. Unlike known devices and methods for interfacing and testing atelecommunication circuit, Applicant's interface device 10 provides atechnician with the ability to either monitor the circuit withoutdisrupting it, or alternatively, disrupt the circuit and evaluate itthrough “looking both ways”, all the while requiring the use of only asingle test cord 40 integrated with the interface device 10.Furthermore, by attaching the interface device 10 next to or nearby theconnectivity blocks 52, the technicians no longer have to carry theirown test cords, resulting in significant savings for the telephonecompany as test cords no longer need to be purchased for eachtechnician. Attachment of the interface device 10 nearby theconnectivity blocks 52 also assures that a technician will always haveaccess to a test cord and test plug. Lastly, by requiring the use ofonly a single test cord, the present invention is seen to be muchsimpler to use compared to prior testing systems that mount within acabinet or BET as those systems typically require the use of twoseparate cords, including a first cord for monitoring the circuit and asecond cord for disrupting the circuit and “looking both ways”.

While the invention has been specifically described in connection withcertain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that thisis by way of illustration and not of limitation, and the scope of theappended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art willpermit.

1. An interface device for testing a plurality of telecommunicationcircuits, comprising: a test cord with a first end integrated with saidinterface device and a second end terminating with a multi-pair plugcapable of connecting to the plurality of telecommunication circuits; atleast two interfaces for selective attachment of a diagnostic tool, afirst interface comprising a plurality of conductors, and a secondinterface comprising a jack; and a switch that is configured to beselectively placed into one of a plurality of positions, wherein any oneof the plurality of telecommunication circuits is configured to beselected, by control of said switch, for either testing, whereby aselected telecommunication circuit is disrupted, or monitoring, wherebythe selected telecommunication circuit is not disrupted.
 2. Theinterface device according to claim 1, wherein said switch comprises arotary switch.
 3. The interface device according to claim 1, whereineach of said plurality of conductors comprises one of a stud, bananaplug, test port and test lead.
 4. The interface device according toclaim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism for mounting saidinterface device onto a surface.
 5. An interface device for testing aplurality of telecommunication circuits, comprising: a test cord with afirst end integrated with said interface device and a second endterminating with a multi-pair plug capable of connecting to theplurality of telecommunication circuits; and at least two interfaces forselective attachment of a diagnostic tool, a first interface comprisinga plurality of conductors, and a second interface comprising a jack,wherein upon connecting to said interface device, the diagnostic toolcan select any one of the plurality of telecommunication circuits foreither testing, whereby a selected telecommunication circuit isdisrupted, or monitoring, whereby the selected telecommunication circuitis not disrupted.
 6. The interface device according to claim 5, whereineach of said plurality of conductors comprises one of a stud, bananaplug, test port and test lead.
 7. The interface device according toclaim 5, further comprising an attachment mechanism for mounting saidinterface device onto a surface.
 8. The interface device according toclaim 7, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one of screws,clips, magnets, and adhesive.
 9. The interface device according to claim7, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a frame secured to thesurface and configured to receive at least one piece oftelecommunications equipment.
 10. The interface device according toclaim 5, wherein monitoring the selected telecommunication circuitpermits analysis of the selected telecommunication circuit on oppositesides of a point at which the multi-pair plug connects to the selectedtelecommunication circuit.
 11. The interface device according to claim5, further comprising a second switch configured to be selectivelyplaced into at least one of a first position and a second position, thefirst switch position enabling monitoring operation of the selectedtelecommunication circuit without disruption and the second switchposition disrupting operation of the selected telecommunication circuit.12. The interface device according to claim 11, wherein said secondswitch is one of a rocker-type switch, a toggle-type switch, rotary-typeswitch, and a button-type switch.
 13. The interface device according toclaim 5, wherein said plurality of conductors comprises four studs, withtwo of said studs permitting analysis of a first side of the point andthe other two of said studs permitting analysis of a second side of thepoint.
 14. The interface device according to claim 5, wherein said jackis a RJ-11 type jack.
 15. The interface device according to claim 1,wherein monitoring the selected telecommunication circuit permitsanalysis of the selected telecommunication circuit on opposite sides ofa point at which the multi-pair plug connects to the selectedtelecommunication circuit.
 16. The interface device according to claim1, further comprising a second switch configured to be selectivelyplaced into at least one of a first position and a second position, thefirst switch position enabling monitoring operation of the selectedtelecommunication circuit without disruption and the second switchposition disrupting operation of the selected telecommunication circuit.17. The interface device according to claim 14, wherein said secondswitch is one of a rocker-type switch, a toggle-type switch, rotary-typeswitch, and a button-type switch.
 18. The interface device according toclaim 1, wherein said plurality of conductors comprises four studs. 19.The interface device according to claim 18, wherein two of the fourstuds permit analysis of a first side of a point at which the multi-pairplug connects to the selected telecommunication circuit and the othertwo of the four studs permit analysis of a second side of the point. 20.The interface device according to claim 1, wherein said jack is a RJ-11type jack.